News analysis: Oba-meh: Observers left and right underwhelmed in Charlotte by President Obama's speech

Comments

"My Elderly parents are getting $200 less per month each in social security
then they did just 1 year ago and their cost for medicare has risen,"

county mom, you really might want to recheck what you are claiming here.
There has been no decrease in social security payments, if there had been you
better believe it would have been news. Of course just to be sure I called my
mother. She assures me that there has not been any decrease in her SS check. I
also asked about my grandmothers check, that my mother helps her with, and,
nope, no decrease there either. There is a reason people are telling you that
your claim is inaccurate.

I also have heard nothing about
Medicare costs increasing. Care to expand on exactly what costs?

As far as your business costs increasing due to new regulations: what would
those regulations be? Also what taxes increased on your business? I don't
think it was federal. I would imagine it must be a local tax increase. You do
know the difference don't you?

county momMonroe, UT

Sept. 10, 2012 6:04 p.m.

I have over the past few months been told that what is actually happening in my
family with our business and the care of my Elderly parents, is false by liberal
DN readers and those posting on several different articles. I will again
tell you. This is the worst President that we have had in my lifetime. Our
cost of living has risen, from $1.89 to $3.98 a gallon for milk just in the past
year. Our income has dropped to one third what it was 4 years ago. In our
business we are currently paying 30% of our gross income in taxes. Our taxes
have risen, our cost to do business has risen thanks to greater regulation. My Elderly parents are getting $200 less per month each in social security
then they did just 1 year ago and their cost for medicare has risen, along with
a drop in coverage. These are the very personal effects of this administrations
actions on my family.It is 4 years since Bush has left office, and the
only changes we have seen are things are getting worse.

Tolstoysalt lake, UT

Sept. 9, 2012 11:19 a.m.

@patriot

and still more

n Kenya, D'Souza interviews
Philip Ochieng, a lifelong friend of the president's father, who claims the
elder Obama was "totally anti-colonial." Ochieng also discloses some of
his own political views, complaining about U.S. policy in Afghanistan and Iraq
and saying the U.S. refuses to "tame" Israel, which he calls a
"Trojan horse in the Middle East." D'Souza seems to suggest that if
a onetime friend of Obama's late father holds those opinions, so, too, must
the president himself.

The assertion that Obama's presidency is
an expression of his father's political beliefs, which D'Souza first
made in 2010 in his book "The Roots of Obama's Rage," is almost
entirely subjective and a logical stretch at best.

D'Souza says Obama removed a bust
of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill from the Oval Office because
Churchill represented British colonialism. White House curator William Allman
said the bust, which had been on loan, was already scheduled to be returned
before Obama took office. Another bust of Churchill is on display in the
president's private residence, the White House says.

In Hawaii,
D'Souza asserts with no evidence that Obama sympathized with native
Hawaiians who felt they had been marginalized by the American government when
Hawaii was becoming a state. D'Souza also asserts – again with no
evidence – that Obama had been coached to hold those views at Punahou, the
prestigious prep school he attended.

Tolstoysalt lake, UT

Sept. 9, 2012 11:15 a.m.

@patriot

D'suza film is nothing more then pure political
propaganda/ My "non-emotional support for such a claim you ask?

'D'Souza says Obama is "weirdly sympathetic to Muslim
jihadists" in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He does not mention that Obama
ordered the raid that killed Osama bin Laden and the drone strikes that have
killed dozens of other terrorists in the region.D'Souza wrongly
claims that Obama wants to return control of the Falkland Islands from Britain
to Argentina. The U.S. refused in April to endorse a final declaration on
Argentina's claim to the islands at the Summit of the Americas, provoking
criticism from other Latin American nations.D'Souza says Obama has
"done nothing" to impede Iran's nuclear ambitions, despite the
severe trade and economic sanctions his administration has imposed on that
country to halt its suspected nuclear program. Obama opposes a near-term
military strike on Iran, either by the U.S. or Israel, although he says the U.S.
will never tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran.

peterAlpine, UT

Sept. 9, 2012 10:08 a.m.

Einstein said you can't fix a problem with the same mind that created it.
Big government perpetrated America's problems, and Bush, clinton, obama,
congress, and the ignorant voting class have only exasperated the problems by
growing an ever-increasing parasitic federal government. Romney will eliminate
a lot of the current wasteful, federal fat, including the departments of
education, EPA, the ACA, and place more of the decision making back to the
States, where it rightfully belongs. Romney may not be perfect, but he will
help solve some of America's problems by downsizing the fed.

worfMcallen, TX

Sept. 9, 2012 9:22 a.m.

Everything is George Bushes fault and Obama has turned things around. Voting
for Romney would bring back those old Bush policies which got us into this mess.
Voting for Obama is a move forward.

A fool is someone who believes a
lie. Kick me once and shame on you. Kick me twice and shame on me.

1aggieSALT LAKE CITY, UT

Sept. 9, 2012 8:38 a.m.

The movie referenced in an earlier post by patriot is a complete waste of time
and money. A staunch Republican friend of mine fell asleep in it because it was
so boring and was laughing to me about its ridiculous far-fetched fear mongering
premise. If you are curious about the movie, I encourage you to find and watch
Bill Maher's discussion of it with its author Dinesh D'Souza, who by
the way doesn't know, and has never even met, President Obama.

patriotCedar Hills, UT

Sept. 9, 2012 12:01 a.m.

After seeing the documentary 2016 - Obama's American I have a different
take on things. I would highly encourage everyone - conservative and liberal to
see it. It is excellent. As far as Obama's speech - I'm not surprised
at all. Obama doesn't feel the need to repeat 2008 because he thinks
American's are too gullible - too uninformed - and too lazy intellectually
to NOT elect him in 2012. He may be right. Sadly he may be right. There are many
great people in this country but there are also many people who are ripe for
someone like Obama to overwhelm them. Sad but true.

patriotCedar Hills, UT

Sept. 8, 2012 11:48 p.m.

I would just say this - perhaps as a challenge to liberals. Go see "2016
Obama's America". It is playing at Cenemark theaters. The director is
Dinesh D'Souza. If you people truly are "open minded" then go see
the documentary. If you have seen it I would like to hear an "objective"
opinion - not an emotional response. Tell me what you thought about the points
brought forward in the film - especially the last 20 minutes when it talks
about what 2016 will look like under 4 more years of Obama. Again - save your
emotional response because I don't want to hear it. I do want to hear
however your thoughts or your "objective and fact based" rebuttal or
your agreement. I want to hear your thoughts about the national debt graphic
especially. Set aside your partisan hats and just try to be open minded if you
can. If you can't then don't bother.

This film is
something EVERYONE should see!!!

worfMcallen, TX

Sept. 8, 2012 9:12 p.m.

Too bad Obama can't use the same determination in his speech, to fix the
economy, lower taxes, bring down unemployment, or reduce the deficit.

worfMcallen, TX

Sept. 8, 2012 7:26 p.m.

If Obama needs more time, and he's really trying to help our economy, then
why:

* give billions to the Muslim Brotherhood, and use the stimulus
money to give billions to China, Japan, Australia, Finland, Mexico. And why
hundreds of millions to Solyndra?* take millions of our money for
vacations.* not deal with Canada for an oil pipeline?

It's
not what he says in a speech, but what he does.

UtahBlueDevilDurham, NC

Sept. 8, 2012 4:57 p.m.

4 years ago the Republicans managed to have the economy in a free fall, the
stock market crashing from 14,000 to 6,600, home prices in free fall, 800,000
plus jobs lost per month, 2 wars, a manufacturing industry on the verge of total
collapse, and a banking system on its knees needing a global bailout... and a
full blow global recession....

Based on these credentials, they are
proud to announce that really, this time they do have the answer. Not going to
tell us other than it will be to lower the top marginal rate, get rid of all
capital gains taxes (which represents 100% of Romney's income and will
lower his personal marginal income tax rate to 0%), and reduce the the deduction
we have on homes by 30% to pay for the capital gains cut.

Romney's taxes go to 0. The average household looses 30% of the mortgage
deduction.

I wish there was a real honest plan out there. I do
think Obama's plan has had marginal successs - success none-the-less but
marginally so. We need a better plan, just not Romney's.

Say No to BOMapleton, UT

Sept. 8, 2012 4:51 p.m.

It fits the MO. When backed into a corner, Obama votes "Present."

CHS 85Sandy, UT

Sept. 8, 2012 4:16 p.m.

At least President Obama's speech was memorable and you are actually
talking about his speech. All that came out of the RNC convention was an 80
year old man talking to a chair.

1aggieSALT LAKE CITY, UT

Sept. 8, 2012 11:22 a.m.

It's just like the old metaphor about you and your fellow camper being
chased by a bear. You don't need to be faster than the bear, only faster
than your friend. Obama did not need to be perfect, or even great. He just
needed to be better than Romney. And he was by all accounts.

Obama
got a significant bounce from his convention, Romney got zero bounce. The
numbers don't lie. End of story.

Tolstoysalt lake, UT

Sept. 8, 2012 10:46 a.m.

@peterSo people that you do not politically agree with don't deserve
to live in a free society? do you see anything wrong with that logic?

peterAlpine, UT

Sept. 8, 2012 10:13 a.m.

I've never heard this guy speak with any kind of substance. He
doesn't understand the fibers that make a free country and a free people.
At the DNC, even his own are divided on basic issues that make America free and
unique among world powers. The loony left who want to live off the labors of
others don't belong in a free society. And they should never be given
leadership roles in a free society.

JWBKaysville, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 9:53 p.m.

I still think if was interesting to see Mrs. President Obama sitting there ready
to give VP Biden the cut it off sign almost in his lap. Again, Biden only said
there were 2 tough decisions the President made, the auto industry bailout and
Bin Laden. The President can't win without the unions such as the UAW and
SEIU behind him.

This administration twists everything, worse than
Bill Clinton's timeframe. At least President Obama okayed the kill, not
firing a couple of drones and then dropping the real hunt. President Clinto
made it sound as if he did everything perfectly and is the only one that can and
did. That was one way to say that this President isn't really doing it,
without doing it.

Less than two months will bring wrangling to the
highest peak and pinnacle.

spring streetSALT LAKE CITY, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 9:40 p.m.

@CI its is a compilation of statements out of context to try to make a
point not to report the news, I stick by my previous statement but thanks.

justme001Salt Lake, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 8:46 p.m.

Carson

You would think Mitt would have learned that on his first loss
wouldn't you

firstamendmentLehi, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 6:06 p.m.

I felt like most of the DNC was sort of a B rate movie, with some really good
acting, but mostly poor acting and a lot of screaming, facts or no.

A1994Centerville, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 5:18 p.m.

Obama is in big trouble. Romney had an okay speech and that's all he
really needed. Obama had an okay speech and he REALLY need something big. He
has no plan. This country can't wait for him to have another try at it.

1aggieSALT LAKE CITY, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 4:49 p.m.

The stock market has been going up like crazy. Why? Because investors have
realized that everything is getting better and that Obama will be reelected (so
we will be continuing in the right direction).

TruthseekerSLO, CA

Sept. 7, 2012 4:16 p.m.

Obama’s approval rating climbed to 52 percent, his highest rating in many
months, according to Gallup’s latest poll. The last three days of the
Democratic National Convention gave him a 7 percent bump in approval over three
days, with a 3 percent hike in just the past 24 hours. Mitt Romney received no
bump in the polls from the RNC, dropping from 47 percent before the convention
to 46 percent.

re:CounterIntellPolitico is fairly centrist,
not obviously left or right.

PalintramHolladay, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 4:10 p.m.

Once again the Des News fails the laugh test. Every article is a one-sided
editorial. I guess it's good business to "run to the base" when
your state is 70% republican.

Counter IntelligenceSalt Lake City, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 3:26 p.m.

@Wildcat Spring Street

If you actually read the article you would
find it was a compilation of statements from other news sources: most of whom
(such as Politico) are partisan leftists

@Utah centristFrom
some seats in the ballpark everything appears to be in right field: its kinda
obvious you are not really seated near home plate?

TruthseekerSLO, CA

Sept. 7, 2012 3:16 p.m.

re:UtahBruin

What of Bush's "Ownership Society?"

From the "Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission" Report:

Widespread failures in financial regulation and supervision proved
devastating to the stability of the nation’s financial markets.

Dramatic failures of corporate governance and risk management at many
systemically important financial institutions were a key cause of this
crisis.

A combination of excessive borrowing, risky investments, and
lack of transparency put the financial system on a collision course with
crisis.

The government was ill prepared for the crisis, and its
inconsistent response added to the uncertainty and panic in the financial
markets.

There was a systemic breakdown in accountability and
ethics.Lenders made loans that they knew borrowers could not afford and
that could cause massive losses to investors in mortgage securities....They knew
a significant percentage of the sampled loans did not meet their own
underwriting standards or those of the originators. Nonetheless, they sold those
securities to investors.

Collapsing mortgage-lending standards and
the mortgage securitization pipeline lit and spread the flame of contagion and
crisis.

The failures of credit rating agencies were essential
cogs in the wheel of financial destruction.

UtahBruinSaratoga Springs, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 2:33 p.m.

@atl134"Sure there's work to be done, but I prefer my economy
heading slowly in the right direction rather than returning to the policies that
drove it into the ditch."

What left wingers fail to recognize is
the crisis under Clintons presidency, yet you blame Bush. Clinton is the one
who brought in Sub Prime Lending, allowing everyone to own a home with
adjustable rate mortgages. This all started in Clinton's last term when it
was all enacted and the beginning of Bush's first. The housing market fell
through the floor, thanks to Clinton and his 8 years of allowances on the
mortgage community. People lost house's, banks struggle, banks struggle,
economy struggles, economy struggles, jobs are lost, jobs lost means Americans
struggle. You want to point fingers, lets start there. We were not struggling
under Reagan, We were not struggling under Bush Sr., and who followed Bush Sr.
Oh yeah wait, it was Clinton. And who was the last president we struggled under,
Carter, before Reagan. Looks like 16 years of Repub. Pres served well and 16
years of Dem pres was not so good. And this is the direction you prefer?

codgerSouthwest Utah, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 2:20 p.m.

The terrible economy he inherited will look like a walk in the park compared to
the economy he will inherit if he is re-elected.

UtahBruinSaratoga Springs, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 2:17 p.m.

@atl134"Besides, Obama noted accomplishments in his own speech while
acknowledging that we still have a ways to go."

He noted his
creation of 4.5 Million jobs. He forgot to mention the 5 Million lost.
Negative 500k for jobs for Obama. What accomplishment?

He noted his
save GM with the bailout, creation of better vehicles that can travel twice as
far on a gallon of gas. He forgot to mention the bailout was started by Bush,
he just followed it through. Gasoline is now twice what it was when he took
office. If a car goes twice as far on a gallon of gas and gas is twice as
expensive, you did nothing. What accomplishment?

He took credit for
killing Osama Bin Laden. Thanks to intel that came from GITMO and the Bush
administration that began this hunt. What accomplishment?

I almost
fell out of my chair laughing when Clinton appeared on the video saying he hopes
we would have made the same decision. Mr. Clinton you had Bin Laden in the
cross hairs twice during your presidency and failed to give the order.

His accomplishment adding $5 Trillion to our National Debt.

You
want this guy again?

SoCalTrueBlue2San Diego, CA

Sept. 7, 2012 1:42 p.m.

Funny to hear the liberals posting comments assailing this article as biased and
a pure editorial hit piece, when it largely quoted from respected Democrats who
were themselves disappointed upon realizing that the high cadence and smooth
delivery of Obama's speech were the only highlights and that there was no
substance to it.

RobroyMurray, utah

Sept. 7, 2012 1:32 p.m.

Style over substance and really not very much style.

atl134Salt Lake City, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 1:31 p.m.

@Liberal Ted"Allowed N Korea and Iran to get the bomb. "

Iran doesn't have the bomb, at least not yet. N. Korea got the bomb while
Bush was president.

"Except you can't allow God, Jerusalem,
gun owners, and anyone who won't be molded 100% into their
ideologue."

I'm sorry, which party is the one that purges
anyone who is very conservative but willing to actually work with Democrats on
bipartisan legislation? Besides, most convention-goers are Christian, even at
the Democratic convention. It's not an anti-Christian thing, it's a
pro-treating-all-religions-equally thing.

"failed to plug the bp
oil spill"

That's BPs fault, and the fault of loose
regulations that let deep drilling like that occur without companies showing
they can contain their mistakes. That's conservative policy that led to
that mess.

"Are you better off than you were 4 years ago?"

August 2008 -274k jobsAugust 2012 +96k jobs.

Sure
there's work to be done, but I prefer my economy heading slowly in the
right direction rather than returning to the policies that drove it into the
ditch.

atl134Salt Lake City, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 1:26 p.m.

@patriot"Think of it this way - IF Obama did have a record to run on
he would have been bragging up a storm and rightly so!!!!"

There
were plenty of convention speeches that did that. Not my fault you listened to
only... actually I can't say for surety that you listened to any. Besides,
Obama noted accomplishments in his own speech while acknowledging that we still
have a ways to go. That's just giving an accurate assessment of the
situation.

Go Big Blue!!!Bountiful, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 12:16 p.m.

Barack has learned a few things.

Four years ago he said if he
couldn't get it done in 3 1/2 years he shouldn't be re-elected.

Last night he said it will take several years to fix the problems
everyone else has created over the past decades. Barack is lowering the bar for
a second term since the first term hasn't brought too much positive hope or
positive change.

GONE 1-20-13

Liberal TedSalt Lake City, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 12:10 p.m.

the democrats claim to be the big tent party. Except you can't allow God,
Jerusalem, gun owners, and anyone who won't be molded 100% into their
ideologue. They talk about their hate of wealthy people, yet have no problem
being sponsored by the wealthy, powerful and elite and making deals with
them.

They claim to care, but, have not created a net job. They had
control of every branch of government and even have the supreme court on their
side. They still couldn't create a net job.

They failed to
respond to Isaac, failed to plug the bp oil spill and refused help from nations
with the expertise, killed dictators in oil rich countries, while allowing
citizens to be slaughtered in non-oil countries. Allowed N Korea and Iran to get
the bomb.

Are you better off than you were 4 years ago? Are we
better off? Will 4 more years be all that he needs to fix the problems? I
don't think so. What happens after he removes our nuclear weapons? Will he
need 4 more years after that to protect us?

I can't believe he
still has a following.

spring streetSALT LAKE CITY, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 12:03 p.m.

I think it is great that the DN is allowing their staff to write editorials but
why does the DN continue to publish them in the "world news." this piece
is very clearly an editorial piece not a news piece. please keep the editorial
pieces on he editorial pages

Liberal TedSalt Lake City, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 12:02 p.m.

The whole line up leading up to this was disgusting. We were graced by bill
clinton who cheated on his wife over and over and over again, then lied to the
American people about it. Then he told us that only barack out of everyone in
the world could make the gutsy call to kill osama. I'm pretty sure I could
find at least 3+ billion people who would have made that call. I know bill
clinton wouldn't make that call because he was too busy defending his
adultery and impeachment process to kill osama when we had him years ago.

Next kerry that threw away his purple hearts, that he had to submit the
request to get them. Awards for self inflicted and superficial wounds. Luckily
he married into someone elses wealth otherwise he would be a nobody...

Next michelle telling us how grounded they are as a family. Really? with all
of her trips, shopping trips, taking her kids around the world,
golfing....really grounded just like all of us. Another lie.

I did
feel bad for Gifford. But the shooter was a registered democrat that murdered
and shot her. Yet the tea party was blamed.

ute alumniTengoku, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 11:55 a.m.

why does this not surprise me? all talk.....and nothing but debt and
unemployment to show for it. Time to get a professional in the oval office,
Romney and not the amateur, obama.

Liberal TedSalt Lake City, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 11:55 a.m.

The only people that were overwhelmed by obama are the ones that drink his kool
aid and will follow him into any hole that he leads them into.

After
the tingling in the leg disappeared and people are waking up from the hangover
and realizing that voting based on race alone, instead of the real abilities of
the person, and havng to stand in an unemployment line and watching pay drop and
hours drop and good jobs disappear while we invest billions and trillions
overseas of borrowed money.

How in the world can that ever be good
and having us head in the right direction?

So much for having the
republicans sit in the back while the demos drive us out of the ditch. Instead
they drove through the ditch into the muck, set the car on fire, throwing gas on
it to put it out, blaming everyone else for the problem and at the same time
telling us it's getting better.

I couldn't force myself to
watch our idiot in chief spew his lies through his chain smoking nicotine
whitewashed teeth. He is disgusting.

patriotCedar Hills, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 11:51 a.m.

hey but look at the upside ....he did say.... well he said... I guess he pretty
much performed as expected when he has no record to run on. It is really hard to
pitch your great business plan to the board of directors ... when you don't
have one. You can only fool people for so long. Think of it this way - IF Obama
did have a record to run on he would have been bragging up a storm and rightly
so!!!! If he did have a clear and confident plan for 2013 he would have
certainly laid it out there ..... but we got the "underwhelmed" blues
instead. Remind you of anyone?? How about 1980 and Jimmy Carter. Actually Paul
Ryan got it right when he said that "Obama makes the Jimmy Carter years look
like the good ole days". But hey guys - I just need a little more time ya
know! Never mind things have gotten worse with unemployment and our debt and
poverty and foodstamps ... yes pay no attention to that man behind the curtain
because the great and powerful BO has spoken...along with alot of smoke and
mirrors!!!

Craig ClarkBoulder, CO

Sept. 7, 2012 11:33 a.m.

It was a rousing speech for Dems hungry for that old time religion but the
substance I was hoping for was not there. Both Romney and Obama have passed on
golden opportunities to be the sole candidate of substance. Apparently, both
have decided that their best hope for victory is in assailing each other.

Trench warfare from now through November 6.

CarsonProvo, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 11:32 a.m.

One and Done!

WildcatO-town, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 11:26 a.m.

Wow, the Romney Reader a.k.a Deseret News (known for it's
pseudo-journalism) is sure getting desperate. This title is comparable to
criticizing a pitcher for throwing a one-hitter instead of a no-hitter or
perfect game.

Meanwhile, they are all excited because Mitt got a
get-me-over fastball over the plate for the first time this campaign--and it was
marginal in most everyone's view--not thanking the soldiers while wanting
to send them to six more battle fronts.

This article isn't even
fit to put on the bottom of the bird cage, but keep trying, you're bound to
hit something soon.

atl134Salt Lake City, UT

Sept. 7, 2012 11:20 a.m.

@RiflemanAs if Republicans are looking for consensus building...

RiflemanSalt Lake City, Utah

Sept. 7, 2012 11:14 a.m.

A real leader has the ability to obtain a consensus from both from both sides of
the aisle, and they don't tell the opposition they "are welcome to ride
but have to sit in back".